Special Study Modules, or SSMs, were introduced into UK medical schools in the mid 1990s. During these courses, subjects are studied in depth over a variable period of time by medical students working singly or in groups. The content matter of these blocks goes beyond the 'core' medical curriculum, with the intention of developing knowledge acquisition, critical appraisal, and self-driven study skills. In each year these blocks follow a different format.
Year 1: PBLP - group projects often with some clinical content, 0.5 days per week for 14 weeks.
Year 2: 2yO - two four-week blocks of dedicated time, mostly small group projects.
Year 4: Individual projects usually involving clinical audit or research, approx half time for 12+ weeks.
Examples are shown below in reverse order of their position in the curriculum. A little more information about SSMs is given on the 2yO website.
Shown first because these topics have the most direct relevance to nephrology.
| Prognosis with a transplant versus prognosis on dialysis (Sophie Gretton) | 1998/99 | Liam Plant |
| A protocol for the prevention of osteodystrophy (Peter Kyriakoudis) Protocol now integrated into unit guidelines | 1999/00 | Neil Turner |
| A cohort study of tacrolimus versus a modern cyclosporin formulation (Matthew Wayman) Submitted for publication | 1999/00 | Caroline Whitworth |
| Permanent indwelling catheters for dialysis and their effect on prognosis (Sajeda Youssouf) | 1999/00 | Neil Turner |
| Outcome data analysis (Winnie Chu) | 2000/01 | Liam Plant |
| Who might be better off without dialysis? (Hannah Wills) used as part of unit performance analysis | May 2001 | Neil Turner |
| The history of dialysis and transplantation in Edinburgh (Dichelle Wong) now available online | July 2001 | Neil Turner |
| Performance of automated analysis versus urine microscopy for investigation of patients with renal disease | available! | |
| Creatinine > 200 and not referred to renal - what happens to them? | available! | Paddy Gibson |
| Acquired cystic disease - 10 years on | available! | |
| Fabry disease - are we failing to recognise it in our ESRF patients? | available! | |
| something else | available! |
This course occupies two 4-week blocks of full-time study during Year 2. The organisers of this course belong to the Unit. Most work in groups of 5-6 on a topic with light supervision from one tutor. At the end they produce a website. More details, and access to the websites, from the 2yO course website.
| Why are MHC molecules associated with diseases? | 1999/00 | Richard Phelps |
| Amyloid fibrils and disease | 1999/00 | Neil Turner |
| How do poisons work? | 2000/01 | Richard Phelps |
| Protein malfolding and disease | 2000/01 | Neil Turner |
| Poisonous animals and plants | 2000/01 | Walaa Saweirs |
| Removing evil humours (cytokines, haemofiltration, etc) | 2000/01 | Matthew King |
| Macrophages and atherosclerosis | 2000/01 | Jeremy Duffield |
| Olfaction | 2001/02 | Neil Turner |
| Heat shock proteins | 2001/02 | Richard Phelps |
| Immune system and the mind | 2001/02 | Walaa Saweirs |
| The Northern Lights | 2001/02 | Neil Turner |
Groups of up to 8 or 10 students study a topic 0.5 days per week for 14 weeks. As this is at a very early stage of the curriculum they have little prior knowledge. These topics have often usually involved some patient contact but have not assumed prior scientific or medical knowledge.
| Life on dialysis | 1998/99 | Neil Turner |
| Patient education about Renal Replacement Therapy | 1999/00 | Anne Petherick |
| Consent: how informed? | 1999/00 | Caroline Whitworth |
| Patient information literature - does it help? | 2000/01 | Anne Petherick |
| Improving informed consent | 2000/01 | Angela Webster/ Walaa Saweirs |
| Sex and dialysis | 2001/02 | Paddy Gibson |
| Something else | 2001/02 | Anne Petherick |